Year II – preparation for the Comprehensive Exam
In the second year, students devote at least one full day per week to research and preparation for the Comprehensive Exam. The main objectives are:
- acquiring advanced methodological knowledge,
- completing the projects required for the dissertation,
- for SMS students, practising the “teaching by doing” approach.
Mandatory events and deadlines
- Group meeting – every two weeks, compulsory for Accelerator and Excellent students.
- Project meeting – at least once a month, 1–2 per month during the manuscript-writing phase.
- Progress Report – twice a year, mandatory for all students.
General rules:
- The first paper must be submitted no later than the 5th Progress Report.
- The statistical analysis of the second project must also be completed by the 5th Progress Report.
- The second paper must be finalised by the 6th Progress Report.
- All students are required to present their results at the Progress Reports.
Support and infrastructure
- Methodological consultation: group meetings are led by experienced ESF and ESD consultants.
- Statistical support: the same statistics team assists all projects; submitting a timeline is mandatory.
- Moodle “Tutorial” section: a continuously expanding collection of online resources.
- Guest lectures: talks by internationally recognised researchers, recommended for all students.
- Learning Management Systems: regular use of Moodle and Microsoft cloud services.
The structure of Year II enables students to pass the Comprehensive Exam on time and lays the foundation for successfully finishing their dissertation.
